Pardee School Student Participates in Inaugural Foreign Service Fellowship
Yemariam Gebeyehu, BA IR ’26, recently completed the inaugural Meridian-Cox Foreign Service Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Washington, DC. This competitive program, which ran from June 23 to June 29, 2024, selected just 20 students from underrepresented communities across the United States.
The fellowship, designed to expand awareness and access to Foreign Service careers, offered participants a unique glimpse into American diplomacy. Through a partnership among Meridian International Center, the Una Chapman Cox Foundation, and Community Colleges for International Development, the program provided a comprehensive introduction to diplomatic work.
Activities included a full-day visit to the U.S. Department of State, diplomatic skills training, a diplomacy simulation, panel discussions with Foreign Service representatives, and various site visits. Fellows also had the opportunity to tour Washington monuments and participate in cultural activities.
Gebeyehu shared her thoughts on the experience: “This fellowship has given me connections and experiences that I otherwise would not have gained, such as meeting many ambassadors and visiting the State Department, USAID, and more. It has opened up new career opportunities for me that I didn’t know about or have much information on, and it has definitely given me a leg up in my future career in international relations.”
She traced her interest in international relations to a formative trip to Ethiopia. “Seeing firsthand the poverty and difference in the way of life is what sparked my interest in working to help in the development of underdeveloped countries, specifically working on humanitarian crises,” Gebeyehu explained.
On the importance of diversity in the field, Gebeyehu noted, “My identity as a student from an underrepresented community allows me to have a different perspective. This is important especially in international relations where a variety of perspectives need to be taken into account when decisions are made that affect underrepresented communities as well.”
Gebeyehu learned about the fellowship opportunity through the Pardee newsletter. Her participation in the Meridian-Cox Foreign Service Fellowship represents one of the ways Pardee School students engage with real-world diplomatic practices. Such experiences complement the school’s academic curriculum, offering students practical insights into potential careers in global affairs.